AISE and ION create student studios for Brussels students outside the regular rental market
05/03/2026
A new project is being developed on Dauwstraat in Anderlecht for students who find it difficult to access the private rental market. It is a sustainable residence built around a large courtyard garden that can accommodate around 100 students and is being realised by project developer ION. The Brussels student rental agency AISE-SVKS is responsible for the rental and day-to-day management. ‘Thanks to this collaboration, we are creating a win-win situation,’ it says. ‘On the one hand, we are offering students high-quality accommodation. On the other hand, we are offering investors a guaranteed financial return, coupled with a social impact.’
Brussels remains a popular city for further education. Today, more than 137,000 students are enrolled at one of the many colleges and universities. And that number continues to rise. This sharp increase is also putting pressure on the housing market. The current shortage of student housing is estimated at 25,000 rooms. With the project in Dauwstraat, ION and AISE-SVKS want to respond to the strong demand for modern, comfortable housing for students with modest incomes.
The new residence will be called “La Rosée”, a nod to the nearby park La Rosée. The site was formerly part of the logistics zone around the Brussels slaughterhouses and is now gradually being developed into a residential neighbourhood. The 1,400 square metre site currently still houses a warehouse. According to the design by Brussels-based architectural firm DDS+, the surrounding wall will be retained and integrated into the new building, as will the existing cobblestones. Part of the original steel structure will also be reused as a pergola in the garden.
La Rosée will be a sustainable student residence that pays great respect to its industrial past. The ground floor will feature student studios, including a number specifically designed for people with disabilities. There will also be an entrance hall, study and relaxation areas, and a spacious bicycle storage facility. The upper floors will feature spacious student studios with plenty of natural light. These are fully-fledged, independent rooms where students can live, study, cook and relax. This project has been designed so that students can also stay there at the weekend: cooking together, organising a film night, studying outside in the garden or simply unwinding.
Relaxation in green surroundings has also been taken into account. La Rosée will be built in a U-shape around a large courtyard garden with many trees and plants. Students will be able to study outside on a bench, meet up with each other, do some exercise or simply catch their breath between classes.
Social investment
La Rosée will soon be fully managed by the Social Rental Agency for Students (AISE-SVKS), a non-profit organisation accredited and funded as an SVK by the Brussels-Capital Region, which focuses exclusively on student housing. Among other things, the organisation is responsible for the allocation, guidance and follow-up of residents. Thanks to the intervention of AISE-SVKS, the new student studios will be reserved for students who do not have access to the regular rental market. In addition, AISE-SVKS also ensures that investors can enjoy a unique 27-year rental guarantee.
